PANGEA LEGAL SERVICES
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Mission Statement
Pangea’s mission is to provide deportation defense services, advocate for policy change, and provide education and legal empowerment for our immigrant communities.
About This Cause
Pangea has three immigration-focused program areas: 1) direct legal representation, 2) policy advocacy, and 3) education and community empowerment. Our legal service practice areas include asylum, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status through family relative, U visa, DACA, and more. In 2015, Pangea provided full-scope legal representation to over 341 California residents with complex immigration matters. 83% of the new cases we opened were in removal proceedings or at imminent risk of deportation. Except for two very difficult cases, our attorneys have won relief in every deportation defense case that we have completed to date (Feb. 2017). VISION. Pangea Legal Services (“Pangea”) envisions a world where the fundamental right to move is respected and appreciated by all. Our view is that all human beings are entitled to respect, documents, and a process through which to move, settle and resettle in the world. HISTORY. Pangea was launched in January 2013 with the support of many community members and organizations. The primary reason for our creation was to help fill a gap in free and low-fee deportation defense services. OUR NAME “Pangea” lies at the heart of our ethos and foundational values. Pangea is the name of the earth’s continent when it was one connected landmass, representing the oneness and interconnectedness of our global community. OFFICES. Pangea’s main office is located in downtown San Francisco, near key immigration offices including the detained and non-detained immigration courts, ICE, USCIS, and the asylum office. Pangea has a second office located in Santa Clara County. A few of our case examples and the impact of community advocacy on our immigrant families: JESUS. His parents brought him to the United States when he was four years old. Jesus attended elementary, middle, and high school here. When Jesus was only nine years old, a judge ordered him and his family deported. Jesus had no idea. Based on that decades-old order, immigration officials raided Jesus’ house when he was 22 and deported him from the country. Immigration officials tried to deport him a second time after he returned, and Jesus was detained. The legal scenario for him was grim. But thanks to grassroots advocacy, including thousands of petition signatures, vocal support from undocumented immigrants, multiple rallies, media campaigns and outreach to legislators, Jesus was liberated from detention after three months and he later obtained relief from deportation. This community support also transformed Jesus, a former sheet metal worker, into a community organizer. The key in Jesus’ case was not only winning his legal case, but also building political consciousness and connecting his case to a long-term political movement. IVAN is the proud father of a seven-month-old son and the sole breadwinner for his family. Ivan was picked up by immigration authorities when his baby was just one month old. With Ivan in detention, the family struggled financially and Ivan’s wife and baby were evicted from their home and forced to move into a homeless shelter. Pangea worked tirelessly to get Ivan released on bond. Once out, Ivan immediately got his old job back and soon will be able to afford an apartment for his family. His premature baby’s health is more stable because his wife has more time and resources to go to doctors’ appointments. Finally, just two weeks after being liberated from detention, Pangea and community organizers engaged Ivan to participate in a community action to promote an end of all immigration detention. Organizers provided Ivan with basic training and prepared him to speak with the press. Ivan (baby in tow) came, provided a speech front of ICE and added his voice to the larger movement to end immigration detention. When MARIA was one and half years old, Maria and her family fled Nicaragua as refugees. Most of her family sought asylum and became U.S. citizens, but Maria and her mother’s applications were denied because she was represented by an attorney who has since been disbarred. After being charged with cashing a false check given to her as compensation for her cleaning services, Maria was detained and separated from her two U.S. citizen children. As a result of immigration detention, Maria lost custody of her daughter to her abusive ex-husband, and was evicted from her San Jose apartment. With the help of an attorney, Maria was released on bond and won her immigration case under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). She is now reunited with her 7-year old son, gainfully employed, has found a new home for her family in Milpitas, and she is on a pathway to becoming a permanent resident in the United States.